CLEVELAND — A federal judge admonished U.S. Rep. James Traficant for submitting a staff member's claim that an FBI agent intimidated her without showing how it pertains to his bribery case.

        Mr. Traficant filed an affidavit Wednesday from Danette Palmer, who said she was intimidated by agent Mike Pikunas last Thursday outside the courtroom. Ms. Palmer said she needed medication to calm herself after the confrontation.

        U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells told Mr. Traficant that he has a responsibility to back up his claims with court motions. He is defending himself, though he is not a lawyer.

        “This is not anything to play around with,” she said after the jury had been dismissed Wednesday.

        Mr. Traficant apologized and said he would file a supporting motion before testimony resumed today.

        The nine-term Democrat has accused the government of having a vendetta against him because he successfully defended himself in a 1983 federal corruption case. But Judge Wells has ruled he cannot use that argument in court.

        “If this isn't a vendetta, then I'm Ronald McDonald,” he said outside the courthouse Wednesday.

        Ms. Palmer, a liaison between Capitol Hill and Mr. Traficant's district, said in the affidavit that she tried to give Mr. Traficant information about steel legislation last week, but the courtroom door was locked. She said Mr. Pikunas persisted in asking whether she was helping Mr. Traficant in his trial.

        Under House ethics rules, Ms. Palmer can assist Mr. Traficant only in his “legislative and representational duties” while on taxpayer-paid time.

        The FBI denies any wrongdoing and the agent did not intimidate her, John Kane, an FBI supervisor in Youngstown, said Wednesday.

        Mr. Traficant, 60, who represents a northeast Ohio district, is on trial on charges he received gifts and free labor from businessmen for his political help and took cash kickbacks and free labor from staff members. The charges include racketeering.

        He told reporters Wednesday as he entered the federal court that he has not decided whether he will testify.

        If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 63 years in prison. However, he likely would receive a shorter sentence under federal sentencing guidelines.

        Prosecutors laid some of the groundwork Wednesday for charges that John J. Cafaro, a multimillionaire member of a Youngstown mall-development family, repaired and bought Mr. Traficant's boat in return for lobbying help. Mr. Cafaro has pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

        Dominic Rosselli Jr., chief financial officer of Cafaro Co., testified that Mr. Cafaro sought the congressman's help to get Federal Aviation Administration approval of a laser guidance system.

        Mr. Cafaro's now-defunct U.S. Aerospace Group lost more than $10 million on the venture, Mr. Rosselli said.

        Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Morford showed the jury a 1998 news release in which Mr. Traficant said he would work to get airports to install the technology.

        A former employee of a construction company testified Wednesday that to her knowledge Mr. Traficant did not pay for work the firm did on his property.

        Leisel Bucheit paid workers and handled billing for Bucheit International, owned by her father, Bernard J. “Pete” Bucheit.

        Prosecutors in Mr. Traficant's corruption trial allege that Bernard Bucheit provided free work for the congressman in return for help getting payments for construction projects in the Middle East.

        Leisel Bucheit testified during Mr. Traficant's cross- examination that she had no knowledge that the congressman would not pay the bills.

        Bernard Bucheit was indicted in January in the Traficant investigation, on bribery, conspiracy and perjury charges.

Fans find three reasons to unite
Luken: Federal proposal 'onerous'
Race out as an adoption factor
Clermont township hires Jorg
He stopped to help and got hit
Catholics checking into new volunteers' records
City losing Deatrick, leader of FWW makeover
City offers settlement in April bean-bag shootings
Environmental court to form
Jobs program revamped
Medical needs getting attention
Norwood limits campaign contributions
Norwood 'selling' Shea
Ohio seeking extradition of sexual predator
Students try their hand at diversity
Tristate A.M. Report
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Kevin's life
RADEL: March 15
AK Steel: Drug searches our right
Not guilty, starting over
Predator's arrest eases minds
Skyline to anchor Liberty center
Subdivision sees traffic increase
Farm bill's future hazy in Congress
Ohio Senate divvies tobacco fund
Panel hears case for enforcing group home rules
Traficant rapped by judge
Biotech may be answer for farms
Group wants books removed from school
Kentucky News Briefs
Legislators putting together pieces of what will be a budget
No Hyundai decision yet, S. Korean firm tells Kentucky
Senate OKs 'Choose Life' plate
Slots a bit closer to racetracks
Trail on way to being park
Unindicted shooter gets reassigned